DPF Guide for Cheaper Shipping in the US (PayPal and USPS Click 'n Ship)

In response to a query on "The Help Desk," here is a DPF Guide to shipping to cheaper shipping in the U.S.

PayPal Shipping

This is useful only if you have a PayPal account.

You must use Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox. Google Chrome is not compatible with the PayPal shipping system. Make sure your pop-ups are NOT blocked.

After you have logged into PayPal, click on "Multi-Order Shipping." This is found on the right side of the page, approximately halfway down.

It will open up a new window (that's why you need to make sure your pop-ups are not blocked). It gives you many options, but the one to choose is "Create." Follow the prompts to complete your shipping address, type of package (first class, priority, etc.), weight, signature confirmation, insurance, etc.

If you only have one package, click "save" and you are done with your label. Otherwise, after you have finished one label, click on "continue" until you are done with all your labels.

After you have completed all your labels, click on "pay and print." The system will generate the labels for you to print. A new window will pop-up to print the labels. Make sure your labels have printed before you click "okay" in response to the prompt inquiring whether your labels have printed. If you make a mistake on the label, you can void it (try not to make a mistake.)

You pay a discounted rate ($1.69 for up to 3 ounces and $0.17 for each additional ounce thereafter) and get FREE delivery confirmation (signature confirmation is a discounted rate of $2.10 - $2.20, instead of the $2.60 at the post office.)

USPS Shipping Assistant aka Click 'n Ship

What to do if you don't have PayPal and don't want to sign up? Well, there is an option to download the USPS program Click 'n Ship, aka USPS Shipping Assistant, on the USPS website at: http://www.usps.com. Just go to the website, search for the program and download. This will allow you to track your packages as well.

You will pay the regular post office rate for the postage (dependent upon weight) BUT you will still get FREE delivery confirmation (or a discounted signature confirmation rate).

The post office advertises that all packages come with delivery confirmation but you are paying for it if you don't use PayPal Shipping or USPS Click 'n Ship.

I will add to this when I have investigated stamps.com and other sites.

Also an easy way to go to the PayPal site and the way I pay is Paypal.com/shipnow, log in and fill in the slots and print your label. So easy and cheap.

I use Stamps.com and can add some information. It is basically like PayPal and USPS.com in terms of rates, but there is a monthly fee ranging from $15.99 to $34.99. Most of us would be happy with the $15.99 fee.

Part of the perks of paying for the fees is you can do a wide selection of different postage sizes and labels, compared to the one standard size for PayPal and USPS.com. You also get the ability to add funds instead of multiple small charges when you do more than one package at a time like on USPS. I add $25 every time I need to, and then instead of my debit card getting charged $1.69 I do a package, it just comes out of the $25 I added. Rinse, and repeat, LOL. Also, they have cheaper insurance, i.e. USPS is $2.20 for $100, Stamps is like $1.20. They also e-mail the package info to any e-mail address you would like, as well as keep a nice searchable log should you need to look up a tracking number

They are also able to do USPS International First Class Packages which I believe USPS and PayPal can not do.

The post office advertises that all packages come with delivery confirmation

Click to expand...

Yes, all packages are now tracked, but only if you pay for it or if you purchase postage online is that confirmation viewable by customers online! Otherwise, it is an internal tracking number viewable by USPS employees only. I had that happen with a package sent to me last week

Thank you for posting. Very useful information as I still send my packages the old fashion way. And saving money would help alot.